Sewing machine

ABSTRACT

Two wing members that enlarge the upper face of the free lower arm of the sewing machine can be swung out of the way, along with any auxiliary parts enclosing said arm, to expose the arm for sewing tubular pieces.

United tates Marcel Fresard Petit-Lancy, Switzerland 805,504

Mar. 10, 1969 Mar. 16, 1971 Melina S. A. Fribourg, Switzerland Apr. 5, 1968 Switzerland Inventor App]. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority SEWING MACHINE 17 Claims, 18 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl 112/258, 112/63 Int. Cl. 10051175/00, D05b 73/10 FieldofSearch 1 12/217.1,

[56] References Cited UNTTED STATES PATENTS 2,958,304 11/1960 Arbib 112/260 FOREIGN PATENTS 531,874 10/1956 Canada 112/260 679,196 7/1939 Germany 112/260 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-George H. Krizmanich AttameysEm0ry L. Groff and Emory L. Groff, Jr.

ABSTRACT: Two wing members that enlarge the upper face I of the free lower arm of the sewing machine can be swung out of the way, along with any auxiliary parts enclosing said arm, to expose the arm for sewing tubular pieces.

Patented Mmh 16,, m1 3,570,431

9 ShmW-Shwt 3 INVENTOR flM/RL'EL F/P snlzb v ATTORNEY Patented March 16, 1971 3,570,431

9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BY my ATTORNEY Patented March 16, 1971 3,570,431

9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR MAME; Flat 54m) BY www- ATTORNEY Patented March 16, 1971 3,570,431

9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR MA/c 1. F/PESA P1) ATTORNEY Patented March 16, 1971 3,570,431

9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR /h/4/. a5/. P19554162 BY ww.

ATTORNEY Patented March 16, 1971 3,570,431

9 Sheets-Sheet 6 l NVENT OR %4@4EL F/PE 54/80 ATTORNEY Patented March 16, 1-971 3,570,431

9 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR Mfl/m 21 F PzsA/BL ATTORNEY Patented March 1, WW 357,431

9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR M/WML B95542 ATTORNEY Patented March 16, 1971 3,570,431

9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENT OR /h,4@454 FEMS/MD BY W7 ATTORNEY SEWING MACHINE The invention relates to a sewing machine having a case comprising a base, a pedestal, a free lower arm, an upper arm, and a head, a plurality of flaps hinged for movement between a lower position, in which the sewing machine can be used, and an upper position, in which the flaps are raised against the case to form therewith an enclosure for the sewing machine.

Sewing machines of this kind are known in the prior art. With these known machines when the lower arm must be exposed to allow drawing a piece of tubular fabric over the arm, the flaps must be removed to expose the arm. This procedure is tedious, and there is always a danger that the flaps will be misplaced.

The sewing machine of the invention incorporates means movable between first and second positions, the means in its first position cooperating with the free lower arm so as to enlarge the upper face thereof and in its second position exposing the lower arm.

The sewing machine of the inventiontherefore has the advantage that it can be used as a machine having a large work surface for sewing the common pieces of fabric or as a machine having a free arm for sewing tubular pieces, as well as the advantage that it can be quickly closed up by raising flaps against the case, thereby protecting the machine against dust and bumps and facilitating its movement and storage.

The invention will be described, with reference to the FIGS. of the accompnaying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the sewing machine of the invention opened up for operation;

- FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but with certain parts being lowered to free the lower arm;

F l6. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a part used in the modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3; i

FIGS. 5 and6 are perspective views of a third embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment, with the lower arm free;

FIGS. 8a and 8b illustrate a fifth formof the invention;

FIG. g is a schematic representation of how the different parts move when the lower arm is exposed, in the fifth embodiment;

FIGS. and ll are perspective views of a sixth embodiment;

FIGS. l2 and 13 are perspective views of a seventh embodiment;

FIGS. M and 115 are perspective views of an eigth embodiment; and

FlGS. l6 and l7 are perspective views of the ninth embodiment.

With reference to the FIGS, the sewing machine comprises a case I composed of a base 2, a pedestal 3, a free lower arm 41, an upper arm 5, and a head 6. In the first embodiment, the base 2 is fastened to a member 7, which incorporates two side panels S hinged along the lower edges 9 along the sides of the base 2. A respective flap 10 is hinged about axis ll along the upper edge of each panel 8. A front panel 12 is hinged to the base 2 at the same height as the panels 8. Hinged to the front panellZ about the axis 13 is a flap 14! for covering the front of the sewing machine when the latter is closed up. A Wing 15 is hinged along the upper edge ofjeach panel 8. The two wings together form a removable surface surrounding the free arm 4 so that the sewing machine has an enlarged working surface in the plane of the upper face of the arm 4, as shown in FIG. I, and the flaps l0 and i4 serve as ramps which facilitate in guiding the material towards the needle plate 16.

When the sewing machine must be used with its free arm 4 completely exposed, the wings 15 are folded down against the panels 8, which latter, together with the front panel 12, are laid down flat, or nearly flat, so that the panels, the flaps l0 and i l, and the two wings are all substantially at the height of the base 2, thereby completely exposing the arm 4.

in accordance with the invention, any suitable means is provided for holding the wings 15 in a horizontal position and the panels 8 and 12 in a vertical position, when the sewing machine is opened up as illustrated in FIG. I. This means can be a spring catch, a pressure lock, a pin, or any other desirable arrangement. The flaps ll) and M can be held to the upper part of the case l by a spring catch. The FIGS. show spring catches 317 that cooperate with respective notches l8 incorporated in the upper edges of the flaps Ill and M. The flaps ltl can be sufficiently long so that they cover the entire length of the machine, including the pedestal 3, or they can be made somewhat shorter so as to cover only part of the pedestal.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the panels 8 are rigidly fixed to the edges 9 of the base 2. The flaps Ill are hinged to the upper edge of the panels ii, as in the previous embodiment; but the wings 15 are hinged to the side edges 19 of the upper face of the arm 4. When lowered, these wings are flat against the sides of the arm 4. The flap 14 is mounted so that it can he slid into a compartment 20 provided in the base 2. In this embodiment the arm 4 is not completely exposed, but the lowered Wings 15 frees sufficient space between the panels 8 and the arm 4 to permit needlework of all kinds on tubular pieces.

FIG. 4 shows a member that can be mounted against the base 2 of a sewing machine. This member, which can be mounted on the base of any kind of sewing machine, comprises a tray 21 having a groove 21a into which the flap 14 can be slipped when the machine is opened up.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an embodiment which is similar to that shown in FIGS. I and 2, except that the panels 8 and 12 are not as high, and the hinge axis 11 of flaps 10 on the panels 8 lies below the plane of the upper face of the arm 4. The wings l5, consequently, when they are in the position to enlarge the upper face of the arm 4, slant downwardly away from the arm and act as a continuation of the ramps formed by the flaps 10. The panels 8 are rigid with respect to the base 2, only the panel 12 being hinged so that it can be laid flat on the surface supporting the machine. Swinging the wings 15 against the inner side of the panels 8 sufficiently exposes the arm 4 for sewing on tubular pieces.

In theembodimentshown in FIG. 7, the panels 8 are rigid with respect to the base 2, and the hinge axis 11 is higher than the upper face of the arm 4. The wings 15 are hinged so that they can be lowered against the inner side of the panels 3. The panel 12 can be laid flat on the surface supporting the sewing machine to free the front of the machine, once that the wings 15 are lowered.

In the fifth embodiment, shown in FIGS. 8a, 3b, and 9, the panels 8 are hinged along the edged 9 of the base 2 so that they can be swung inwards, under the arm 4. Each wing 15 forms a unitary piece with the respective flap 10, each piece being hinged along the upper edge of a respective panel S. This arrangement has the advantage that the flaps 10 take up less space when folded down, because a part of each flap is located under the arm 4'. These flaps, of course, do not cover the pedestal 3, since they are of the same length as arm 4, permitting them to be folded thereunder.

The sixth embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, has Wings 15 which are not hinged, but can be moved, parallel to their own plane, between the base 2 and the plane of the upper face of the arm t. These wings are car'riedby connecting rods 22 pivotally connected to the base 2 and to the wings. By swinging these rods forward, in the direction of the arrows, the wings are lowered, as shown in FIG. 111. Since the flaps 10 are hinged about the axis ll along the lengthwise edges of the Wings 15, they are constrained to follow the movement of the latter. The panel 12 is connected to the front rods 22; and the flap lid is hinged to the panel l2, which lowers with the flaps 110. The panels 8 are hinged along the edges of the wings to swing about the axis ll, so that they must be turned upwards so as to lay flat underneath the flaps ll). In a modification, the panels 8 can be hinged along the lower edges of the base 2. Here, these panels must be turned downflat onto the supporting surface before the Wings 15 can be lowered.

FIGS. l2 and 13 show a seventh embodiment in which the sewing machine is of the same kind as that illustrated in N68.

10 and 11. In this case however, the panels 8 and 12 are eliminated, and the wings 15 can be fixed in the plane of the upper face of the arm 4. These wings are pivotally connected to the base 2 by a respective connecting rod 22, whereby they can be moved substantially parallel to themselves to their lowered position shown in FIG. 13. The connecting rods 22 can be pivoted towards the pedestal 3, so that part of the flap 14- is disposed under the arm 4 when the flap is in its lowered position. Rigidly fixed to the case 1 are two members 23, which together with the upper face of the arm 4 and the wings 15 form the enlarged working surface. The flaps 10 are hinged about the axis 11 along the lengthwise edges of the wings l5, and the flap 14 is hinged along the front edge 24 of these wings. When the sewing machine is closed up, the wings 15 lie in the plane defined by the upper face of the arm 4, and the flaps l and 14 are fixed in place against the upper arm and the head 6, the free arm 4 being exposed.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 is similar to the preceding one, except that the connecting rods 22' are replaced by the members 25 which are extensions of the respective wings 15 and are hinged to the case 1, to turn about an axis 26, and to the respective wings 15, to turn about an axis 27. The flaps are hinged along the lengthwise edges of the Wings 15, and the flap 14 is hinged along the edge 24 of these wings. This scheme arrangement also enables the wings to be moved parallel to themselves between the base 2 and the upper face of the arm 4, while pulling the flap 14 partways under the arm 4 when they are lowered when members 25 are moved downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 15.

The last embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17, shows a sewing machine having the same fundamental parts, including the case 1, the base 2, the pedestal 3, the free arm 4, the upper arm 5, and the head 6, as well as the panels 8 and 12, along the upper edges of which are hinged the flaps l0 and 14. The wings 15 consist of members fixed rigidly to the panels 8, which are hinged to the case 1 to turn about a vertical axis at the pedestal 3. The panel 12 is hinged along the front edge of the base 2, so that it, and the flap 14, can be laid flat on the supporting surface. When the arm 4 must be completely exposed, the panels 8 are turned about the vertical axes 28 until they are largely behind the pedestal 3, the flaps 10 then being turned down to the position shown in FlG. 17. The arm 4 is now completely free for the sewing of tubular pieces. When sewing fiat material, the panels 8 are swung against the base 2, the Wings 15 flush against the arm 4 to form an enlarged surface.

In accordance with the invention, the flap 14, shown in all of the embodiments of the flaps 10 can be reduced, so that they cover the open space between the lower and upper arms, 4 and 5, but not the upper arm itself.

Although the preferred embodiments have been described, the scope of, and the breadth of protection afforded to, the invention are limited solely by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A sewing machine for use on a supporting surface, said machine comprising a casing having a base, a pedestal, a free lower arm including upper, lower and side faces, an upper arm, a head, and a plurality of flaps, means connecting said flaps to said casing to permit movement of said flaps between a lower position in which the sewing machine can be used and an upper position is which said flaps are raised against said casing to form therewith an enclosure for the sewing machine, and material supporting means cooperating with said flaps and said lower arm and movable between first and second positions, said means in its first position cooperating with said lower arm so as to enlarge the upper face thereof and in its second position sufficiently exposing said lower arm for the sewing oftubular pieces ofmaterial.

2. The sewing machine as defined in claim 1, including a hollow member associated with said base and in which said lower arm is centered and spaced therefrom, and wherein said first and second flaps are hinged along respective sides of said hollow member.

3. The sewing machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said material supporting means comprises two wings hinged to respective sides of said lower arm and movable between upper and lower positions, whereby in their upper position said wings enlarge the lower arm upper face and in their lower position said wings are flat against the sides of said lower arm to free the space between said holllow member and said arm.

4. The sewing machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said hollow member includes two lengthwise sides, each spaced from a respective side of said lower arm, an upper lengthwise edge defined by each said hollow member side, said means comprising two wings hinged along a respective said upper edge on the inner face of the corresponding said hollow member sides and movable between upper and lower positions, whereby in their lower position said wings are flat against the inner faces of said member sides to free the space between said member edges and said lower arm and in their upper position said wings enlarge the lower arm upper face.

5. The sewing machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said hollow member includes two side panels connected to respective sides of said base and free to pivot with respect to said base between upright and flat positions, and said first and second flaps hinged along the upper edge of respective ones of said panels, whereby said panels and first and second flaps can be folded down flat.

6. The sewing machine as defined in claim 2, wherein a third said flap is hinged to the front end of said base to move between upper and lower positions and to cover, when in its upper position, the front face of the sewing machine to close up the latter.

7. The sewing machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said first and second flaps in their lower position each provide a ramp rising towards said lower arm, and said wings in their upper position each provide a ramp that acts as an extension of said first and second flaps in their lower position and rises towards said lower arm on a respective side thereof.

8. The sewing machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said material-supporting means is pivotally connected to said base to move substantially parallel to itself, and to said base, between upper and lower position corresponding respectively to said first and second positions.

9. The sewing machine as defined in claim 8, wherein said first and second flaps are hinged to said material-supporting means and move therewith, whereby when said means is in its lower position said first and second flaps rest substantially flat on the surface supporting the sewing machine.

10. The sewing machine as defined in claim 9, including connecting rods pivotally connected between said materialsupporting means and said base for permitting said means to move substantially parallel to itself.

11. The sewing machine as defined in claim 5, wherein said two side panels are mounted free to pivot towards each other and under said lower arm to fiat positions.

12. The sewing machine as defined in claim 6, wherein said hollow member includes a front panel hinged to said base, and wherein said third flap is hinged to said front panel.

13. The sewing machine as defined in claim 6, including means for enabling said third flap to be slipped into said base, when the sewing machine is opened up.

14. The sewing machine as defined in claim 1, including two vertical panels, one on each side of said lower arm and said base, freely mounted to turn about a respective vertical axis on said pedestal so that said panels can be turned until they are positioned behind said pedestal to expose said lower arm completely, and wherein said first and second flaps are hinged to respective ones of said vertical panels and move therewith.

15. The sewing machine as defined in claim 14, wherein said material-supporting means comprises a wing rigidly connected to each said vertical panel to move therewith.

16. The sewing machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second flaps are located on respective sides of said lower arm, and said material-supporting means is an integral extension of said first and second flaps and is fiush with the second flaps are in said base and hinged to said base to swing under said lower arm, and therein said first and second flaps together with said material-supporting means are hinged to respective ones of said vertical panels. 

1. A sewing machine for use on a supporting surface, said machine comprising a casing having a base, a pedestal, a free lower arm including upper, lower and side faces, an upper arm, a head, and a plurality of flaps, means connecting said flaps to said casing to permit movement of said flaps between a lower position in which the sewing machine can be used and an upper position is which said flaps are raised against said casing to form therewith an enclosure for the sewing machine, and material supporting means cooperating with said flaps and said lower arm and movable between first and second positions, said means in its first position cooperating with said lower arm so as to enlarge the upper face thereof and in its second position sufficiently exposing said lower arm for the sewing of tubular pieces of material.
 2. The sewing machine as defined in claim 1, including a hollow member associated with said base and in which said lower arm is centered and spaced therefrom, and wherein said first and second flaps are hinged along respective sides of said hollow member.
 3. The sewing machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said material supporting means comprises two wings hinged to respective sides of said lower arm and movable between upper and lower positions, whereby in their upper position said wings enlarge the lower arm upper face and in their lower position said wings are flat against the sides of said lower arm to free the space between said holllow member and said arm.
 4. The sewing machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said hollow member includes two lengthwise sides, each spaced from a respective side of said lower arm, an upper lengthwise edge defined by each said hollow member side, said means comprising two wings hinged along a respective said upper edge on the inner face of the corresponding said hollow member sides and movable between upper and lower positions, whereby in their lower position said wings are flat against the inner faces of said member sides to free the space between said member edges and said lower arm and in their upper position said wings enlarge the lower arm upper face.
 5. The sewing machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said hollow member includes two side panels connected to respective sides of said base and free to pivot with respect to said base between upright and flat positions, and said first and second flaps hinged along the upper edge of respective ones of said panels, whereby said panels and first and second flaps can be folded down flat.
 6. The sewing machine as defined in claim 2, wherein a third said flap is hinged to the front end of said base to move between upper and lower positions and to cover, when in its upper position, the front face of the sewing machine to close up the latter.
 7. The sewing machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said first and second flaps in their lower position each provide a ramp rising towards said lower arm, and said wings in their upper position each provide a ramp that acts as an extension of said first and second flaps in their lower position and rises towards said lower arm on a respective side thereof.
 8. The sewing machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said material-supporting means is pivotally connected to said base to move substantially parallel to itself, and to said base, between upper and lower position corresponding respectively to said first and second positions.
 9. The sewing machine as defined in claim 8, wherein said first and second flaps are hinged to said material-supporting means and move therewith, whereby when said means is in its lower position said first and second flaps rest substantially flat on the surface supporting the sewing machine.
 10. The sewing machine as defined in claim 9, including connecting rods pivotally connected between said material-supporting means and said base for permitting said means to move substantially parallel to itself.
 11. The sewing machine as defined in claim 5, wherein said two side panels are mounted free to pivot towards each other and under said lower arm to flat positions.
 12. The sewing machine as defined in claim 6, wherein said hollow member includes a front panel hinged to said base, and wherein said third flap is hinged to said front panel.
 13. The sewing machine as defined in claim 6, including means for enabling said third flap to be slipped into said base, when the sewing machine is opened up.
 14. The sewing machine as defined in claim 1, including two vertical panels, one on each side of said lower arm and said base, freely mounted to turn about a respective vertical axis on said pedestal so that said panels can be turned until they are positioned behind said pedestal to expose said lower arm completely, and wherein said first and second flaps are hinged to respective ones of said vertical panels and move therewith.
 15. The sewing machine as defined in claim 14, wherein said material-supporting means comprises a wing rigidly connected to each said vertical panel to move therewith.
 16. The sewing machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second flaps are located on respective sides of said lower arm, and said material-supporting means is an integral extension of said first and second flaps and is flush with the lower arm upper face when said first and second flaps are in their lower position.
 17. The sewing machine as defined in claim 16, including two vertical panels, one on each side of said lower arm and said base and hinged to said base to swing under said lower arm, and therein said first and second flaps together with said material-supporting means are hinged to respective ones of said vertical panels. 